Feds Could Pay for Road Improvements By Charging Big Trucks By the Mile

Massive 18-wheel tractor trailers cause significant pavement damage but don’t pay their full share of the costs for the nation’s highways, writes Rob Atkinson in The Hill. Yet, some in the industry are now calling for Congress to establish a pilot program to allow even heavier trucks on the road. Policymakers should support improving trucking productivity this way—but Congress also should mandate that the trucks pay taxes per mile traveled, factoring in axle weight and the types of roads they use.